Cash crunch: Failing to get money from bank, people block Amritsar-Attari road

As the money level is dipping day by day in banks of the city, the anger in people is rising equally as on Tuesday, the city saw protests and blockades at many places due to the frustration of not being able to get money in hand. The money dearth has affected both professional and personal lives of people. However, the salaried people claim that they are the worst affected as they have not yet been able to withdraw their monthly salaries, six days after the payday.

Police and bank officials trying to pacify the people who blocked the road outside State Bank of India branch at Batala road on Tuesday.(Sameer Sehgal/HT Photo)

As the money level is dipping day by day in banks of the city, the anger in people is rising equally as on Tuesday, the city saw protests and blockades at many places due to the frustration of not being able to get money in hand.

The money dearth has affected both professional and personal lives of people. However, the salaried people claim that they are the worst affected as they have not yet been able to withdraw their monthly salaries, six days after the payday.

Hundreds of people at Khasa PNB branch, who stood for hours and waited for their turn but failed to get money, later blocked the Amritsar-Attari road. The block also halted the Lahore-Delhi bus.

It took a lot of effort of the police to pacify the people and even bankers came out explaining that they are helpless until RBI flush in more money.

However, it was not only at the Amritsar-Attari road that people took to roads. The main Batala road outside SBI branch too was blocked for about two hours.Serpentine queues were also seen outside ATMs across the city but people went back empty-handed.

Women walk out of homes, say PM move is sheer harassment

Meanwhile, more and more women can be seen on roads and in bank queues.

Speaking to HT, Ramandeep Kaur said, “It is sheer harassment. My husband used to stand in the ATM queues but everyday, he got late for his job. So I am standing in queues now, leaving my house chores.”

Another lady Reena Kumari, holding her two-year-old baby said, “What kind of change is the Prime Minister looking for? This move is sheer harassment for people like us who are struggling to get lower denomination notes from banks for running our houses as we do not have cards. Neither do we know internet money exchanges.”

Banks continue to complain of money dearth

“It is the sixth payday. But we are hardly getting Rs 8-9 lakh cash a day and people are demanding around Rs 20,000 withdrawal in one time. We are not biased but are left with no option but to give only Rs 5,000-Rs 6,000 per person. The RBI needs to flush in more new denomination notes of Rs 500 and lower so that they can be put in ATMs,” said senior manager of PNB (Punjab National Bank).